Aluminum Nitride Thin Film Piezoelectric Pressure Sensor for Respiratory Rate Detection.

In this study, we propose a low-cost piezoelectric flexible pressure sensor fabricated on Kapton (™ ) substrate by using aluminum nitride (AlN) thin film, designed for the monitoring of the respiration rate for a fast detection of respiratory anomalies. The device was characterized in the range of 15-30 breaths per minute (bpm), to simulate moderate difficult breathing, borderline normal breathing, and normal spontaneous breathing. These three breathing typologies were artificially reproduced by setting the expiratory to inspiratory ratios (E:I) at 1:1, 2:1, 3:1.

Acoustic Waves in Piezoelectric Layered Structure for Selective Detection of Liquid Viscosity.

The acoustic waves of higher orders propagating in a layered structure consisting of a silicon plate coated with piezoelectric and/or films were used for the development of a sensor with selective sensitivity to liquid viscosity in the range of 1-1500 cP. In that range, this sensor possessed low sensitivity to liquid conductivity and temperature T in the ranges of 0-2 S/m and 0-55 °C, respectively. The amplitude responses insensitive to the temperature instead of the phase were used to provide the necessary selectivity.

Development of an MIP based electrochemical sensor for TGF-β1 detection and its application in liquid biopsy.

Oral cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in Europe and its large diffusion requires, together with prevention, the development of low-cost and reliable portable platforms for its diagnosis, with features of high selectivity and sensitivity. In this study, the development and characterization of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based electrochemical sensor for TGF-β1 detection are reported. The optimized biosensor is a potential tool for the early screening of oral cancer.

-Based MFC with PEDOT:PSS/Graphene/Nafion Bioanode for Wastewater Treatment.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a variety of bioelectrocatalytic devices that utilize the metabolism of microorganisms to generate electric energy from organic matter. This study investigates the possibility of using a novel PEDOT:PSS/graphene/Nafion composite in combination with acetic acid bacteria to create a pure culture MFC capable of effective municipal wastewater treatment. The developed MFC was shown to maintain its activity for at least three weeks.

The Peculiarities of the Acoustic Waves of Zero-Order Focusing in Lithium Niobate Plate.

In this research, beam focusing in lithium niobate plate was studied for fundamental anti-symmetric (A) and symmetric (S) Lamb waves, and the shear-horizontal (SH) wave of zero-order. Using the finite element method, appropriate configuration of the interdigital transducer with arc-like electrodes was modeled accounting for the anisotropy of the slowness curves and dispersion of the modes in the plate. Profiles of the focalized acoustic beams generated by the proposed transducer were theoretically analyzed.

Modeling, Fabrication and Integration of Wearable Smart Sensors in a Monitoring Platform for Diabetic Patients.

The monitoring of some parameters, such as pressure loads, temperature, and glucose level in sweat on the plantar surface, is one of the most promising approaches for evaluating the health state of the diabetic foot and for preventing the onset of inflammatory events later degenerating in ulcerative lesions. This work presents the results of sensors microfabrication, experimental characterization and FEA-based thermal analysis of a 3D foot-insole model, aimed to advance in the development of a fully custom smart multisensory hardware-software monitoring platform for the diabetic foot. In this system, the simultaneous detection of temperature-, pressure- and sweat-based glucose level by means of full custom microfabricated sensors distributed on eight reading points of a smart insole will be possible, and the unit for data acquisition and wireless transmission will be fully integrated into the platform.

A Reliable BioFET Immunosensor for Detection of p53 Tumour Suppressor in Physiological-Like Environment.

The concentration of wild-type tumour suppressor p53 in cells and blood has a clinical significance for early diagnosis of some types of cancer. We developed a disposable, label-free, field-effect transistor-based immunosensor (BioFET), able to detect p53 in physiological buffer solutions, over a wide concentration range. Microfabricated, high-purity gold electrodes were used as single-use extended gates (EG), which avoid direct interaction between the transistor gate and the biological solution.

Inkjet Printing of Plate Acoustic Wave Devices.

In the paper, the results of production of Ag inkjet printed interdigital transducers to the acoustic delay line based on Y-cut X-propagation direction of lithium niobate plate for the frequency range from 1 to 14 MHz are presented. Additionally, morphological, structural, and electro-physical characteristics of the obtained electrodes were investigated. Mathematical modeling of the excitation of acoustic waves by these electrode structures was carried out.

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and the Electrocatalytic Activity of as the Basis of a Biosensor.

This paper considers the effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the parameters of microbial biosensors. MWCNTs were shown not to affect the structural integrity of microbial cells and their respiratory activity. The positive results from using MWCNTs were due to a decrease in the impedance of the electrode.